Carrier



Jan. 3, 1967 w, T, THOMAS 3,295,645

CARRIER Filed March 18, 1964 2 Sheets-$heet 1 \INVENTOR WIY/I'am H. Sf. Thomas ATTORNEYS United States Patent Orifice V 3,295fi4-5 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,645 CARRIER William H. St. Thomas, Gloversville, N.Y., assignor to St. Thomas Ina, Gloversville, N.Y. Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,902 2 Claims. (Cl. 190-48) The invention disclosed herein relates to a carrier and more particularly to one for carrying personal articles.

The preferred embodiment disclosed is the type most frequently used by men for shaving gear and other toilet articles.

The principal object of the present invention is to make a carrier body of soft pliable non-self supporting material, preferably of a high grade leather, the body being carried by a top frame which is the only fully rigid member in the carrier, and wherein the carrier is so made that the body part is in effect suspended from the frame in a mannerto eliminate strain and wear thereon.

As is well known, this type of carrier is used by travelers and generally packed into a larger bag. Because of this, the carrier disclosed herein also has a high degree of pliability or flexibility permitting it to adjust to the irregular spaces in which it may be placed, and to collapse to minimum size, depending upon the quantity of contents.

Additionally, because of the present high incidence of air travel the carrier is also constructed to provide a minimum weight for its size, the carrier weighing approximately ten and one-half ounces although in its preferred form it is approximately ten inches long, five inches wide and three inches deep.

A still further object is a method for producing a carrier of this type wherein a minimum number of operations is required.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent from the following description when read in the light of the acornpanyirrg drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carrier with the closure in closed position;

FIGURE 1a is an enlarged view of the fullness within the circle in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carrier with the closure in substantially full open position;

FIGURE 3 is an end view with the closure in full open position;

FIGURE 4 is a View taken on line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the frame member;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a shaping piece;

FIGURE 8 is a view of a body piece; and

FIGURE 9 is a view of the lining piece.

Referring to the drawings the carrier comprises a body A whichis a substantially rectangular container of pliable or flexible material, preferably a soft non-self supporting leather, and a metal frame B which is the only entirely rigid part of the carrier.

The body portion has opposed end walls 10, opposed side walls 12, and a bottom 14, thus defining an open top rectangular container. Coextensive with each side wall is a partial top opening closure flap 16, having end edges 18 and a lengthwise edge 20, the total area of each flap being approximately one half that of the body top opening. Herein the edges of the flaps and the top edges of the end walls 10 will be referred to as the top periphery of the carrier body, with the parts positioned as in FIG- URES 2 and 3.

The top of each end wall 10 carries a tab 11 projecting higher than the jointure of flap 16 with the side wall, the tab being turned inwardly (see FIGURES 2, 3 and 4) and having secured thereon a flat loop member 22, the bottom wall of the loop member lying in a plane above that of the closure flap 16 when the latter are in the full open position at substantially right angles to the side walls (see FIGURE 3), the difference being approximately one thickness of the leather used, for reasons hereinafter apparent.

The frame B is in the form of a hollow rectangular member having an outside periphery similar to the top periphery of the body A with the flaps spread open. The frame includes end cross arms 24 and opposed U shaped hinged members 28. Each hinged member has end legs 30, each pivotally connected at its inner end to an end of the cross arms 24, by removable pivots 25, and each a lengthwise arm 31 interconnecting the outer ends of the legs. Spring biasing means (not shown) are provided at the pivots 25 for bias ng the hinged member to either full closed position or full open position; as they pass through the center position at right angles to the cross arms.

The frame described herein has the outer edge of each lengthwise arm 31 reversed downwardly and inwardly (FIGURE 6) to provide an underlying lengthwise lip 22 integral therewith and connecting the web 33 thereto and defining with the overlying arm an inwardly facing channel 3 2, the arms and channel constituting clamping means for securing a lengthwise edge portion of the flap to the frame.

With the body A and frame member B so constructed it will be seen (FIGURE 2) that the cross arms 24 are receivable in the body loops 22 whereupon the hinge members overlie the closure flaps (as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3) with the peripheries of each being in substantial alignment. The cross arms 24 provide end supports for the body A and, the lengthwise edge portion 2% of each closure flap is clampingly secured in the respective channel 32 of the lengthwise hinge arm providing the lengthwise supports for the body. The hinges and closure flaps thus constitute the full closure for bay A.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, each frame cross arm 24 is sufficiently longer than its supporting loop 22 to positioning the pivots 25 slightly outwardly therefrom and above the'corner jointure between the closure flap and side wall. Additionally the lengthwise portion edge Ztl of each closure flap is secured to the frame at a point remote from the pivot 25, and the length of the flap edge 18 from the pivot to the point of connection is greater than the length of the hinge end 30 between the same points, thus providing a fullness 33 which wraps around the pivot 25 (see FIGURE 1a) without pulling and straining the flap material, thus reducing wear at this critical oint.

p The described construction offers several advantages. Because the cross arms 24 are not fixedly secured in the loop members 22 a sidewise motion is permitted to cornpensate for slight misalignment in assembly. If there is a sliding of contents within the carrier it will cause the material to crowd but not to strain, and thus the body does not absorb any resultant shock but tends to move with it. Due to the fullness, the body material is not stretched or strained as the hinged members are moved from their open position as seen in FIGURE 2 through to their closed position as seen in FIGURE 1 and the fullness provides overlay of the material at the hinge pivot, leaving a slight space therebetween eliminating friction and wear at this critical point. The doubled over lengthwise hinged arms 31-29, give substantially greater strength to the frame while permitting the use of very light metal. When in closed position they provide a barrier if anything is dropped onto the carrier.

When the carrier is to be supported by an end handle 36, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, it is preferably provided with a bottom shaper. Herein the bottom shaper comprises two symmetrical U-shaped members 40 (see FIGURE 7), which are made of any suitable material, such as resin impregnated fiber known as vulcanized fiber or light thin metal. Each member includes a center leg 41. and end legs 42 corresponding in overall length to slightly less than one half the periphery of the carrier, so that when in position the ends of the end legs do not meet. The member 40 is flexible at right angles to its longitudinal axis, thus permitting it to flex inwardly if it is hit, whereby it will absorb the shock rather than transmit it to the contents. The shaping members 40 are secured in place by any suitable adhesive. A single rectangular piece could be used but the two piece structure is preferred as it permits greater flexibility of the carrier at the ends. As seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2 the bottom shaping member is relatively shallow to permit maximum telescoping of the body walls.

The entire carrier is lined with a lining 42 of a suit able washable material. The lining corresponds in shape to the body A thus providing a body within a body. The top periphery of the lining is secured to the top periphery of the body A and is otherwise free. Because of this the lining can be turned inside out of the body A for cleaning purposes. Parts of the lining corresponding to parts of the body are similarly numbered with the suflix fa.

Although the carrier body A can be made in numerous ways, for economical and rapid manufacture the preferred method is now described. Two symmetrically inverted T shaped pieces 44 (see FIGURE 8), are cut and each includes (indicated by the dotted lines) a side wall 12, a coextensive closure flap 16, and the portions of the T cross arm extending from the side wall each constitute one half of an end wall 10, with the upper edge of each portion 10 carrying a tab 11 for securing the loops 22. It is apparent that by overlaying two pieces 44 and sewing the vertical ends of the cross bar of the T, and then sewing the lower peripheral edge to a rectangular bottom 14, while simultaneously sewing in one end of. the handle 36 the main body section A is made in three sewing operations. The loop members 22 are formed by simply folding over a piece of material and sewing their free edges to the tabs 11 of the end walls 10.

The lining 42' is shaped from a cruciform piece 46, (see FIGURE 9), the long arms constituting the bottom, side walls, and panel flap coverings, and the short arms the end wall coverings. By turning the four arms upwardly and sewing the mating edges the lining is formed and ready to be inserted within the body A, this being done after the shaping members 40 are secured in place. Thereafter the top edges of the end walls and closure flaps are sewed to secure the lining within the body. Simultaneously with the sewing of the lining to the top edges of the end walls, the loops 22, and other end of handle 36 may be sewed in place.

- If desired the body piece 44 (FIGURE 8) may also 'be provided with fold pieces 47, which may be folded over the lining member to protect it as the material used for lining will generally wear faster when brought into contact with the hinge arm, than will the body material.

Following the insertion of the lining the lengthwise edges of the closure flaps are clampingly secured within the lengthwise channels 32, the frame cross arms are inserted in loops 22, and the cross arms and hinge members connected by pivots 25 to complete the assembly.

For convenience in opening and closing the carrier, tabs 48 may be clampingly secured in position simultaneously with the securing of the closure flaps. For appearance the frame can be of highly polished metal or covered with leather pieces 50 as shown.

It is apparent that changes could be made without departing from the teachings herein, such changes falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The following is claimed:

1. A carrier having a body of flexible material and a rigid top frame,

(a) the body having a bottom, opposed end walls,

opposed side walls and a top opening,

(b) a flap coextensive with each side wall, each flap being a partial closure for the top opening and having end edges and a lengthwise edge,

(c) said rigid top frame having opposed cross arms of like width to the body end walls and opposed U shaped hinged members pivotally connected to the ends of the cross arms,

(d) each hinged member having end legs and a lengthwise arm,

(e) said arm having means for securing at least the lengthwise edge of a flap to said lengthwise arm in spaced relation from said pivoted connection,

said arm having means comprising a V shaped channel adapted to co'rnpressively engage an edge of a flap,

(f) means interconnecting the top edge of each opposed end wall to opposed frame cross arms.

2. A rigid top frame for a carrier of flexible material having four sides and a bottom and at least one flap integral with one side for forming a top cover, comprising two cross arms adapted to be secured to the carrier at opposite ends thereof to define the width of said carrier, a U-shaped member having end legs and a lengthwise arm the length of each said end leg being approximately one half the length of one of said cross arms, means establishing a hinged connection between the free ends of said legs and said cross arms so that said U- shaped member can be moved from a closed position where said legs are superposed above said cross arms to an open position, said arm having means for securing at least one edge of a flap to said arm comprising a V-shaped channel adapted to present a pocket for receiving said edge of a flap and engaging said edge when said notch is compressed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 378,623 2/1888 Schmidt 190-48 517,181 v3/ 1894 Willringhaus 190-48 1,223,920 4/1917 Wolf -29 2,068,058 1/1937 Lewis 150-30 2,331,802 10/1943 Rosenkrantz 150-30 2,561,042 7/1951 Arnold et al. -48 2,783,808 3/1957 Renz et al. 150-34 2,795,258 6/1957 Berry et al. 150-28 3,048,209 8/1962 Kemmer 150-29 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner,

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner.

M. L. MINSK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER HAVING A BODY OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND A RIGID TOP FRAME, (A) THE BODY HAVING A BOTTOM, OPPOSED END WALLS, OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A TOP OPENING, (B) A FLAP COEXTENSIVE WITH EACH SIDE WALL, EACH FLAP BEING A PARTIAL CLOSURE FOR THE TOP OPENING AND HAVING END EDGES AND A LENGTHWISE EDGE, (C) SAID RIGID TOP FRAME HAVING OPPOSED CROSS ARMS OF LIKE WIDTH TO THE BODY END WALLS AND OPPOSED U SHAPED HINGED MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF THE CROSS ARMS, (D) EACH HINGED MEMBER HAVING END LEGS AND A LENGTHWISE ARM, (E) SAID ARM HAVING MEANS FOR SECURING AT LEAST THE LENGTHWISE EDGE OF A FLAP TO SAID LENGTHWISE ARM IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID PIVOTED CONNECTION, SAID ARM HAVING MEANS COMPRISING A V SHAPED CHANNEL ADAPTED TO COMPRESSIVELY ENGAGE AN EDGE OF A FLAP, (F) MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE TOP EDGE OF EACH OPPOSED END WALL TO OPPOSED FRAME CROSS ARMS. 